Biography of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough 1650-1722

On 26 May 1648 [his father] Winston Churchill (age 28) and [his mother] Elizabeth Drake (age 26) were married.

On 26 May 1650 John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough was born to Winston Churchill (age 30) and Elizabeth Drake (age 28).

On 16 Jul 1672 [his illegitimate daughter] Barbara Fitzroy was born illegitimately to John Churchill (age 22) and Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 31) at Merton College, Oxford University. She claimed the child was the King's (age 42) but most consider her father to be John Churchill, subsequently Duke of Marlborough.

On 01 Oct 1678 John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 28) and Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 18) were married.

In Oct 1679 [his daughter] Harriet Churchill died.

In Oct 1679 [his daughter] Harriet Churchill was born to John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 29) and [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 19).

On 19 Jul 1681 [his daughter] Henrietta Churchill 2nd Duchess of Marlborough was born to John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 31) and [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 21).

On 27 Feb 1683 [his daughter] Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland was born to John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 32) and [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 22).

On 14 May 1685 John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 34) was created 1st Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire.

On 13 Feb 1686 [his son] John Churchill was born to John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 35).

On 15 Mar 1687 [his daughter] Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater was born to John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 36) and [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 26).

On 26 Mar 1688 [his father] Winston Churchill (age 67) died.

On 09 Apr 1689 John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 38) was created 1st Earl of Marlborough.

On 15 Jul 1689 [his daughter] Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu was born to John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 39) and [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 29).

On 19 Aug 1690 [his son] Charles Churchill was born to John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 40) and [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 30).

John Evelyn's Diary. 24 Jan 1692. A frosty and dry season continued; many persons die of apoplexy, more than usual. Lord Marlborough (age 41), Lieutenant-General of the King's army in England, gentleman of the bedchamber, etc., dismissed from all his charges, military and other, for his excessive taking of bribes, covetousness, and extortion on all occasions from his inferior officers. Note, this was the Lord who was entirely advanced by King James (age 58), and was the first who betrayed and forsook his master. He was son of [his father] Sir Winston Churchill of the Greencloth.

On 22 May 1692 [his son] Charles Churchill (age 1) died.

In 1698 [his mother] Elizabeth Drake (age 76) died.

In Mar 1698 [his son-in-law] Francis Godolphin 2nd Earl Godolphin (age 19) and [his daughter] Henrietta Churchill 2nd Duchess of Marlborough (age 16) were married. She the daughter of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 47) and [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 37). He the son of Sidney Godolphin 1st Earl Godolphin (age 52) and Margaret Blagge.

John Evelyn's Diary. 08 Jun 1698. I went to congratulate the marriage of [his son-in-law] Mr. Godolphin (age 19) with the Earl of Marlborough's (age 48) [his daughter] daughter (age 16).

Before 02 Dec 1700 [his son-in-law] Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland (age 25) and [his daughter] Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland (age 17) were married. She the daughter of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 50) and [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 40). He the son of Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland (age 59) and Anne Digby Countess Sunderland (age 54).

John Evelyn's Diary. 08 Dec 1700. Great alterations of officers at Court, and elsewhere, - Lord Chief Justice Treby died; he was a learned man in his profession, of which we have now few, never fewer; the Chancery requiring so little skill in deep law-learning, if the practicer can talk eloquently in that Court; so that probably few care to study the law to any purpose. Lord Marlborough (age 50) Master of the Ordnance, in place of Lord Romney (age 59) made Groom of the Stole. The Earl of Rochester (age 58) goes Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

In 1702. Michael Dahl (age 43). Portrait of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 51).

In Dec 1702 John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 52) was created 1st Duke Marlborough, 1st Marquess of Blandford. [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 42) by marriage Duchess Marlborough.

In Dec 1702 John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 52) was appointed 512th Knight of the Garter by Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 37).

John Evelyn's Diary. 01 Feb 1703. A famous cause at the King's Bench [Map] between Mr. Fenwick and his wife, which went for him with a great estate. The Duke of Marlborough (age 52) lost his only [his son] son (age 16) at Cambridge by the smallpox. A great earthquake at Rome, Italy [Map], etc. A famous young woman (age 23), an Italian, was hired by our comedians to sing on the stage, during so many plays, for which they gave her £500; which part by her voice alone at the end of three scenes she performed with such modesty and grace, and above all with such skill, that there was never any who did anything comparable with their voices. She was to go home to the Court of the King of Prussia, and I believe carried with her out of this vain nation above £1,000, everybody coveting to hear her at their private houses.

On 09 Feb 1703 [his son-in-law] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater (age 21) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater (age 15) were married. She by marriage Countess Bridgewater. She the daughter of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 52) and [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 42). He the son of John Egerton 3rd Earl Bridgewater and Jane Paulet Countess Bridgewater (age 47).

On 20 Feb 1703 [his son] John Churchill (age 17) died of smallpox.

In 1705 [his son-in-law] John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu (age 15) and [his daughter] Mary Churchill Duchess of Montagu (age 15) were married. She the daughter of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 54) and [his wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 44). He the son of Ralph Montagu 1st Duke Montagu (age 66) and Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland. They were third cousins.

John Evelyn's Diary. 09 Feb 1705. I went to wait on my Lord Treasurer (age 59), where was the victorious Duke of Marlborough (age 54), who came to me and took me by the hand with extraordinary familiarity and civility, as formerly he was used to do, without any alteration of his good-nature. He had a most rich George in a sardonyx set with diamonds of very great value; for the rest, very plain. I had not seen him for some years, and believed he might have forgotten me.

John Evelyn's Diary. 01 Oct 1705. Mr. Cowper (age 40) made Lord Keeper. Observing how uncertain great officers are of continuing long in their places, he would not accept it, unless £2,000 a year were given him in reversion when he was put out, in consideration of his loss of practice. His predecessors, how little time soever they had the Seal, usually got £100,000 and made themselves Barons. A new Secretary of State. Lord Abington (age 32), Lieutenant of the Tower, displaced, and [his brother] General Churchill (age 49), brother to the Duke of Marlborough (age 55), put in. An indication of great unsteadiness somewhere, but thus the crafty Whig party (as called) begin to change the face of the Court, in opposition to the High Churchmen, which was another distinction of a party from the Low Churchmen. The Parliament chose one Mr. Smith, Speaker. There had never been so great an assembly of members on the first day of sitting, being more than 450. The votes both of the old, as well as the new, fell to those called Low Churchmen, contrary to all expectation.

On 12 Oct 1709 Anne Hamilton was born to James Hamilton Duke Hamilton, 1st Duke Brandon (age 51) and Elizabeth Gerard Duchess Brandon (age 29) in St James' Square. He was named after his godmother Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 44). His other godparents were John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 59) and [his son-in-law] Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland (age 34).

Before 24 May 1711 John Closterman (age 51). Portrait of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 60).

Before 24 May 1711 John Closterman (age 51). Portrait of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 60) known as The Triumph of the John, 1st Duke of Marlborough.

On 22 Mar 1714 [his daughter] Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater (age 27) died.

On 15 Apr 1716 [his daughter] Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland (age 33) died.

On 16 Jun 1722 John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 72) died at Cranbourne Lodge, Windsor. His daughter [his daughter] Henrietta (age 40) succeeded 2nd Duchess Marlborough, 2nd Marchioness of Blandford, 2nd Countess of Marlborough, 2nd Baroness Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire. [his son-in-law] Francis Godolphin 2nd Earl Godolphin (age 43) by marriage Duke Marlborough.

Before 1744 Enoch "The Younger" Seeman (age 49). Portrait of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough and Colonel John Armstrong.

In 1744 John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough was reburied in the Chapel of Blenheim Palace.

On 18 Oct 1744 [his former wife] Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 84) died.

Letters of Horace Walpole. 27 Jul 1752. Arlington Street. To Horace Mann 1st Baronet (age 45).

What will you say to me after a silence of two months? I should be ashamed, if I were answerable for the whole world, who will do nothing worth repeating. Newspapers have horse-races, and can invent casualties, but I can't have the confidence to stuff a letter with either. The only casualty that is of dignity enough to send you, is a great fire at Lincoln's Inn, which is likely to afford new work for the lawyers, in consequence of the number of deeds and writings it has consumed. The Duke of Kingston (age 63) has lost many of his: he is unlucky with fires: Thoresby, his seat, was burnt a few years ago, and in it a whole room of valuable letters and manuscripts. There has been a Very considerable loss of that kind at this fire: Mr. Yorke, the Chancellor's son, had a great collection of Lord Somers's papers, many relating to the assassination plot; and by which, I am told, it appeared that the Duke of Marlborough was deep in the schemes of St. Germain's [Meaning the court of the exiled James II].